Roses In The Desert

Roses are some of the most beautiful plants mother nature can offer up. It seems as if everyone wants to grow them, but can they grow in our harsh desert environment? You bet.

While it is a bit of a challenge, growing roses in the desert is indeed possible. There are a few things you'll need to keep in mind. On your first attempt you've probably noticed roses puff out into fluffy balls because of the heat. During a cold snap the edges of the petals turn black. Colors aren't as vibrant and the wonderful scent is barely there. Do not give up, let's just call your first experience a practice run.

Keep in mind that roses don't just grow on their own out here, so you will have to adapt a few things to make them more comfortable.

First, figure out where in your yard you want to grow the roses. The best place to plant them is on the north or east side of a building, where they will get morning sun but be protected from intense afternoon heat. Do not plant roses under shade trees, they will stretch out looking for sun and you'll end up with leggy, unproductive plants. Try to keep the roses where a cold wind won't get to them.

Generally speaking roses in the desert bloom from late September until mid-December, when the cold hits them and tests their durability. If at all possible, protect your roses from frost with blankets or by keeping them in planters that can be moved to a warmer area during freeze warnings. The roses will resume their growth when the cold snap ends, usually around the end of January until about May, when the heat will prove to be just too much.

Not all roses are alike. Most modern varieties come from Europe and were developed with a cooler climate in mind. Today it appears there is a burst of new roses created just for desert gardens. These varieties are much more tolerant of our soil and heat.

Roses require a lot of water. The soil needs to be kept moist because the roses have shallow roots. Organic mulch helps keep the moisture near the surface, but if you have winter blooming roses skip the mulch. The surface will be warmer and protect against frost damage.

Next, you need to enrich your soil. Scatter ammonium sulphate around the bush and water deeply.

Prune the bushes in late August and early January. Do not prune heavily like they do in cooler parts of the country. Only about a third of the bush should be trimmed back at this time. Remove old, woody canes at ground level. Many folks like to remove all of the green leaves from the plant when pruning but I'd advise against this, by leaving some of the leaves you allow it to absorb nutrients and help the plant become healthier.

See a complete list along with colorful photos of roses that will grow in the desert here.